Mechanical toy



SePt- 2, 1941- J. s. LARKlNs, JR 2,254,967

MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 19, 1941 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL TOY John S. Larkins, Jr., Scotia, N. Y.

Application March 19, 1941, Serial No. 384,165

Z Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical toy and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein an object, such as a wheeled body may be projected over a surface together with means whereby the direction of such projection can be regulated or varied at will.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved mechanical toy whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. v

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a mechanical toy constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating in detail thesteering means as herein embodied; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the structure as illustrated in Figure 3, a portion of the body being omitted.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing B denotes a box-like member of desired dimensions and which is provided at suitably spaced points in its top wall I with thetransversely disposed openings 2 through which pass an endless web 3 of predetermined width. The upper stretch of this web 3 rides over the outer surface of the top wall I of the box B while the portions of the web 3 within the box B are operatively engaged with the guide rollers l suitably mounted within the box B. One of these rollers 4 is in operative engagement, as at 5, with a suitable source of power, herein disclosed as an electric motor 8. The motor 8 operates to drive the endless web 3 at a predetermined speed and the upper stretch of the web, or that portion of the web overlying the top wall 2 of the box B, constitutes what may be termed a moving roadway. Underlying the upper stretch of the web 3 but in relatively close proximity thereto is a slide 1 supported by the box B for movement transversely of the box B, or xmore particularly of the upper stretch of the web 3. Engaged with the opposite end portions of this slide 1 are the extremities of a flexible member 8. This member 8 is operatively engaged with the suitably positioned guide rollers 9 and 55 has its central portion wrapped around the end portion of a shaft I0 extending within the box B through the end wall II of the box in advance of the web 3. Upon desired rotation of the shaft I0 the slide 1 may be readily moved or adjusted to a desired selected position transversely of the upper stretch of the web 3. The outer extremity of the shaft II) is provided with an operating member I2 to facilitate the rotation of the shaft In. Thecentral portion of the slide 1 has mounted thereon at its center a magnet I4 which may be permanent or otherwise as preferred.

Co-acting with the upper stretch of the web 3 is a body I5 herein disclosed as in simulation of an automobile body, although I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular design. This body I5 is provided with the rear supporting wheels I6 and the front supporting wheels I1 which are mounted in a conventional manner upon a front steering axle I8. This axle I8 is pivotally engaged from below, as at I9, with the body I5 so that the direction of travel of the body I5 as projected from the upper stretch of the web3 may be regulated depending upon the degree of shifting of the slide 1 in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained.

'Ihe axle I8 has extending forwardly therefrom the converging arms 20 which are rigid with the vturn the axle I8 in a direction and to an extent depending upon the relative spacing of the magnets I I and 2I and thereby determine the direc- Ition of travel of the body I5 as it is thrown off of the upper stretch of the web 3 upon the adjacent surface of the top I of the box, `or such other surface as may be provided. It is believed to be obvious that the web 3 is of a material which will in no way interfere with the desired co-action between the magnets I4 and 2l.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a mechanical toy constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be as` sembled and operated.

I claim:

1,. A device of the class described comprising in combination a movable member, a slide supported below said member for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of travel theref of, means for moving said slide, a magnet mounted on the slide, a body to be freely mounted on the movable member in advance of the slide, said body including a steering axle and a second magnet operatively supported by the axle in ad vance thereof, said second magnet being attracted by the rst magnet as the movable member carries the body toward the slide to turn the steering axle in a direction and to an extent dependent upon the relative spacing of the two magnets in a direction transverse to the direction of travel ofthe movable member.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination a movable member, a slide supported below said member for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of travel thereof,

means for moving said slide, a. magnet mounted on the slide, a body to be freely mounted on the movable member in advance of the slide, said body including a steering axle, a second magnet operatively supported by the axle in advance thereof, said second magnet being attracted by the first magnet as themovable member carries the body toward the slide to turn the steering axle in a direction and to an extent dependent upon the relative spacing of the two magnets in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the movable member, the means for moving theslide comprising a flexible member secured to the opposite ends of the slide, a shaft about whichvthe intermediate portion of the exible member Winds and means for guiding the flexible member to assure movement of the slide transversely of the 'direction of travel of the movable 

